Galapagos Spectacular Hammerhead, Manta, Mola And Marine Iguana Trip 2026
May 07 - May 17 , 2026
Shark Encounters
Free Photo Workshops
Pelagic Encounters
Off the Beaten Track
Why Join This Trip- Inclusions & Exclusions
- Trip Type
- Trip Overview
- Accommodations
- Photo Gallery
- About the Trip Leader
- How to Get There
- Payment Schedule
Why join this Trip?
Galapagos Master Lower Deck Cabin
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomWifi (surcharge)Camera RoomDouble Occupancy
$10,400p/p
Galapagos Master Upper Deck Cabin
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomWifi (surcharge)Camera RoomDouble Occupancy
$10,500p/p
OptionalLand Extensions
Inclusions
Exclusions
Trip type
Photography Workshop
Led by one of our photo instructors and will include daily underwater photography tutorials, in-water photography support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.
Read more about the trip
Trip Overview
Trip Overview
"I have put together an epic trip to the Galapagos, where we will help people get incredible photos of hammerhead sharks, mantas, penguins and more. I have picked a boat with the best possible itinerary for this purpose at the best time of year - this will truly be a trip of a lifetime."- Scott Gietler
The unique and isolated islands of the Galapagos are home to truly extraordinary creatures: Schooling hammerheads and a large variety of other sharks, mantas, sea turtles, and sea lions, as well as endemic species such as penguins, flightless cormorants, and extensive schools of fish.
Scott has done extensive research to choose the best possible time of year and route for this trip. He will be making sure photographers and non-photographers alike have an incredible trip.
The Galapagos Master is a first-class yacht with a capacity for just 16 divers. Its spacious cabins and well-designed dive amenities ensure a comfortable and relaxing trip. A spacious indoor lounge boasts cushioned bench seating and a plasma screen for photo viewing, and there is an indoor camera set-up station with numerous charging points and storage drawers situated to the rear, providing ample room for a full photography charter group. Further camera preparation areas can be found on the rear deck next to the dive deck.
Read reviews on diving Galapagos here.
Marine Life To Photograph
Thanks to their extreme isolation, the Galapagos Islands have some of the mostunique marine life on the planet. Here are just a few examples of marine life you're likely to see: dolphins, sea lions, penguins, turtles, marlin and large schools of fish, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, eels, and manta rays. This is a wide-angle photographer's paradise, but don't leave the macro lens at home: frogfish, octopus, seahorses, nudibranchs and other small subjects are found at various dive sites.
Trip Schedule
The itinerary can be variable and will be planned according to the direction of the trip leader and cruise director on board. They will have a good idea at that time of the conditions at the various locations.
Diving Conditions
The trip takes place during the warm season in the Galapagos, with the highest water and air temperatures. We may experience afternoon rain showers, but the sun shines again after the rain.
Water temperature is 21-30C (70-86F) with some cooler thermoclines at depth. The northern islands are generally warmer. Visibility stays at an excellent 12 to 33 meters (40-100 feet).
Diving in the Galapagos can involve strong currents and surge, therefore divers should hold a minimum certification of Advanced Open Water with 50 logged dives.
Accommodations
About The Galapagos Master
The new Galapagos Master liveaboard used to be the "Deep Blue" - a very well-laid out boat. The Master Liveaboard fleet, owned by the Siren Fleet (WWDS), has refitted the boat with new engines, new compressors, new generators, new water-makers, individual air-con, an entertainment system in each room, a dedicated camera station, new dive gear for rent, and Nautilus lifelines, along with many other small improvements.
Read the report on our previous Galapagos trip and great reviews of the Galapagos Master!
About the Trip Leader
Nirupam Nigam
Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo & Video - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head.
You can get in touch with him at nirupam@uwphotographyguide.com or through his website www.photosfromthesea.com.
How to Get There
Flight Information
- The trip will begin and end in San Cristobal (airport code SCY)
- When the time comes (no sooner than 1 year before departure) we can assist you with flight suggestions and booking.
- Guests will fly into Guayaquil International Airport (code GYE) or Quito (code UIO), then take one of the daily 1-hour flights to San Cristobal.
- Embarkation begins on May 7th; it is recommended that guests arrive on the 6th and stay in a nearby hotel, although if you are tight on time it is still possible to arrive on the 7th and immediately board the boat.
- Disembarkation is the morning of May 17th; you will take one of the daily flights out of San Cristobal back to GYE or UIO. Have at least 3-4 hours layover before your international departure, or stay a night near the airport if you want to play it safe.
Flight Package
Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.
However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.
If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service.
Contact Us for more information.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $800 to book your spot
- Payment 2: $2,400 due 15 February 2025
- Payment 3: $4,000 due 15 August 2025
- Balance: due 15 November 2025
Galapagos Spectacular Hammerhead, Manta, Mola And Marine Iguana Trip 2026
Book now and experience adventure
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by Jenny Hanna
